Denice "Mama Bear" Avon

Denice Avon was born on October 17, 1964 (or as she called it ROCKtober). She grew up in Santa Monica, California. She bravely passed away on May 18, 2025, in Altoona, Iowa, after her battle with Stage IV lung cancer. She lived two years longer than any doctor expected, due to her sheer determination and stubbornness to get back to her family in Iowa from her Florida paradise.

Everyone who knew Denice would describe her as a bright light and big personality. A true Cali Girl, she loved being outside, especially near the ocean, nature, and her plants. She was fiercely dedicated to her family, earning the nickname, "Mama Bear." She was a wild child who loved loud music and dancing like no one was watching. She was a constant source of amusement, with a drink in her hand and a smoke of some kind in her mouth.

Denice is survived by her daughter, Crystal (Ben) Shinrock; son, Patrick Baysinger; bonus daughters, Amber (Jonathan) Rice Hernandez and Hannah (Logan) Johnston; grandchildren: Blaze, Natalie, Malina, Ariella, Jonny, Balian, Bane, Bella, Lawson, Willow, and Christian; sisters, Diane (Jeff) Pettiecord, Doreen (Delbert) Johnson, and Jessica White; brother, Joey Smizer; her nieces and nephews: Kacie, Michael A, Eric, Kristine, Ashlee (Adam), Amanda, Michael J, Austin, Seth (Reagan), Joe, Pheonix, Allie, James, and Ryan.

She is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Chris Avon; her nephew, Ryan Cookson; her brother-in-law, Scott Avon; her mother-in-law, Shari Avon; her mother, Monica Aguirre; her father, Ronald Mead; and her brother, Donald O'Brien.

Thank you to all the friends and family who reached out to us during this hard time and to those who came to her celebration of life. The love was palpable and so appreciated. She was looking down with love, but she is undoubtedly happy that she and Chris are together again.